Norwich Union becomes Aviva - Aviva plc Home > Media > News releases > Norwich Union becomes Aviva Norwich Union becomes Aviva 29 May 2009 On Monday, 1 June, Norwich Union, the UK’s largest insurer will complete its planned name change to Aviva as part of the group’s strategy to grow and transform as it competes globally. The international savings, investments and insurance group already trades as Aviva in most of its 28 markets across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific and the change in the UK is a key part of Aviva’s strategy of uniting the business behind a worldwide brand. Aviva has grown from the merger of a number of businesses to become the fifth largest insurer in the world providing savings, investments and insurance to around 50 million customers. Today’s change is part of the transformation set out by Andrew Moss, chief executive, in October 2007 in the "One Aviva, twice the value" vision, which aims to maximise the company’s full potential as a global group. A consistent, recognisable name and branding across its markets around the world is an important part of Aviva’s strategy to succeed in an increasingly competitive and global marketplace.

For Norwich Union customers, becoming Aviva is not just about a name change, it is also about being part of a company which is transforming itself to meet the needs of its customers. As part of a global company, Aviva customers in the UK will benefit from the group’s experience and expertise around the world, bringing improved products and services in the future. Aviva customers will also be able to log on to the newly launched website , which brings significantly improved capabilities allowing customers to check prices against competitors to ensure they are getting the best deal for their insurance, and to manage, change and renew their policies online. A new market leading pension tracker system also gives new customers and advisers instant online access to their pensions. These new services are among the many changes Aviva is implementing to make life easier for its customers. Aviva is now ranked as the fourth most valuable insurance brand in the world and in the UK the name change advertising campaign has proved highly effective; public awareness of the name change soared to around 80% following the initial burst of advertising and has remained high.

Reduced levels of advertising because of the current economic climate mean that Aviva has been able to advertise at lower costs, achieve greater cut-through and has benefited from extra exposure, for example, when posters have remained on billboards after the paid-for booking has ended. Andrew Moss said: “This is a key moment for Aviva. Over the past two years we have been working hard to bring Aviva businesses around the world closer together to maximise our full potential and to build the new Aviva around the needs of our customers. For our 54,000 staff across the world we’re bringing them together as one team under a common identity and together we are totally committed to making sure our move to a global brand brings many positive changes for our customers. “Aviva’s trusted brand is one of our most valuable assets, particularly in the current economic environment when customers are looking for solid financial companies to save and invest with. Now is the right time to invest in our brand so that it adequately reflects the improvements we’re making in the service we give to our customers.” Outside the UK, Aviva’s businesses in Ireland and Poland will complete the name change to Aviva in 2010.

-ends- Aviva launches new advertising campaign - Aviva Aviva You are currently within Homepage > Media centre Aviva launches new advertising campaign Article date: 22 December 2008 Aviva, the international savings, investments and insurance group, is launching a new advertising campaign to communicate that the UK's largest insurance company, Norwich Union, is changing its name to Aviva. The high profile campaign, created by AMVBBDO, will launch on 26 December across national broadcast, print, outdoor and online media, and will run for six months. The company already trades as Aviva in over 20 markets across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific and the change of name in the UK marks the final phase of the company's move to a worldwide brand. Norwich Union will change its name in June 2009. The first TV execution in the new Aviva advertising campaign features A-List celebrities who have changed their names, before becoming internationally recognised for their talent.

Stars including Bruce Willis, Elle Macpherson, Ringo Starr, Alice Cooper and Dame Edna Everage ask themselves: "would this have happened if my name had been...?" Created by Tony Strong and Mike Durban and directed by Vaughan Arnell - who previously directed videos for Robbie Williams - the advert shows celebrities integrated into earlier footage in which they are observing their younger selves. For example, Bruce Willis talks from the passenger seat of a car chase scene from the movie Die Hard, whilst his younger self is driving the car. Amanda Mackenzie, chief marketing officer at Aviva, says: "We are very proud that Norwich Union started 200 years ago, selling protection against fire and highway robbery; as Aviva we are now the fifth largest insurer in the world. As our business becomes increasingly global, we need one name customers can recognise, wherever they are. One name means a unified company, allowing us to share our knowledge and expertise with customers around the world.

The new advertising campaign communicates our name change in a dynamic and vibrant way, signaling that this is the beginning of an even better way of doing things for our customers." -ends- Further information: Still photography from the advertising available from Hill and Knowlton - Katie Keenan, senior PR account manager, 0207 413 3000 / 07939 646489, Katie.keenan@hillandknowlton.com Norwich Union Louise Zucchi - head of media relations Telephone: +44 (0)1603 684506 Sue Winston - head of media relations Telephone: 020 7662 8221 Notes to editors: About the celebrities Bruce Willis was born Walter Bruce Willis on 19 March 1955, in Idar-Oberstein, West Germany. He is an American actor, and film producer who came to fame in the late 1980s and has since starred in over 60 films, including Die Hard, Pulp Fiction, Sin City, Unbreakable, Armageddon and The Sixth Sense.

Elle Macpherson was born Eleanor Gow on 29 March 1964 in New South Wales, Australia. She is a businesswoman, model, and actress, known as "The Body". Ringo Starr was born Richard Starkey on 7 July 1940 in Liverpool. He is a musician, singer, songwriter and actor, best known as the drummer for The Beatles. Alice Cooper was born Vincent Damon Furnier on 4 February 1948. He is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans five decades, and who created the theatrical brand of rock music known as shock rock. Dame Edna Everage was born John Barry Humphries on 17 February 1934, in Melbourne, Australia. He is best known for his on-stage and television alter egos Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson. About Aviva plc Aviva is the international savings, investments and insurance group formed from the merger of Norwich Union and CGU in 2000. Following the merger the parent company, CGNU plc, operated under 40 major trading brands across the world until the Aviva brand was introduced in 2002.

Aviva is the leading provider of life and pension products in Europe with substantial positions in other markets around the world, making it the world's fifth largest insurance group based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2007. Aviva's principal business activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with worldwide total sales of £49.2 billion at 31 December 2007 and funds under management of £359 billion at 30 June 2008. Commercial Union Poland and Hibernian in Ireland will also become Aviva by 2010. After the name change, the cathedral spire logo will be retained. RAC is part of Norwich Union. As a specialist motoring services brand, the RAC name will not change. The Aviva media centre at includes images, company and product information and a news release archive. For broadcast-standard video, please visit Aviva takes over as Norwich Union brand disappears for good. - Telegraph The Norwich Union brand will disappear on Monday as its parent company, Aviva, completes its year-long rebranding exercise.

Norwich Union: multi-million pound advertising campaign A multi-million pound advertising campaign featuring Bruce Willis, Ringo Starr and Elle Macpherson have been run in recent months to boost awareness of the switch. Yet in a recent vox pop on an East Anglian television programme many people had never heard of Aviva and some thought it was a type of car. The change in name has required the change of 10,000 legal and policy documents, letters and leaflets, while staff ID and business cards are being replaced along with office signs, branded vehicles, stationery, telephone message systems and the company website. Andrew Moss, chief executive of Aviva, said: "This is a key moment for Aviva.Over the past two years we have been working hard to bring Aviva businesses around the world closer together to maximise our full potential and to build the new Aviva around the needs of our customers.

"For our 54,000 staff across the world we're bringing them together as one team under a common identity and together we are totally committed to making sure our move to a global brand brings many positive changes for our customers." Related Articles Aviva Insurance UK Ltd - Heritage - Aviva plc You are currently within Home > Our history > Companies > Aviva Insurance UK Ltd Aviva Insurance UK Ltd Aviva Insurance UK was established on 1 March 1797 as the Norwich Union Society for insuring of buildings, goods, merchandises & effects from Loss by Fire. On 16 June 1997, the company changed its name to Norwich Union Insurance. On 21 February 2000, Norwich Union plc, the holding company, merged with CGU plc to form CGNU plc, which was rebranded in July 2002 as Aviva. On 01 June 2009 Norwich Union Insurance Ltd was renamed Aviva Insurance UK Ltd.

Company History Norwich Union promotional calendar, 1897 The company's earliest existing policy was issued to Seth Wallace, a blacksmith of New Buckenham, on Christmas day 1797 and covered his house and shop. In its early years, the company operated under a number of names, including the Union Fire Office, the Norwich Insurance Fire Office and the Norwich Union Society for Insuring against Loss by Fire, but was most regularly known as the Norwich Union Fire Office. By 1821, the company had 25 fire brigades in cities across England, including Norwich, London, Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Exeter and Gloucester. In the same year, the company underwent a reorganisation and amalgamated with the Norwich General Assurance Company. On 6 August, a new deed of settlement was signed under the name the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society. The company continued to grow, as evidenced by an 1866 advertisement stating that "insurances are granted by this Society on buildings, goods, merchandise, and effects, ships in port, harbour, or dock, from loss or damage by fire, in any part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland".

By 1884, the company had extended its business to include losses caused by lightening or gas explosion. On 18 June 1908, a private act of parliament was passed allowing the registration of the society as a limited company. It was subsequently registered on August 6 of the same year as the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society Ltd. By 1909, the company was offering accident and sickness, third party indemnity, fidelity guarantee, property owners' liability, employers' liability, burglary and plate glass, hail storm and motor car insurance. In 1912, the company began to transact marine and livestock business and, in 1916, added engineering and boiler insurance. In 1920, the company was purchased by the Phoenix Assurance Company Ltd and, in 1925, its entire share capital was purchased by the Norwich Union Life Insurance Society. Norwich Union Gloucester fire engine, c1895 From 1963, the company's annual report and accounts were merged with the Norwich Union Life Insurance Society under an umbrella organisation known as the Norwich Union Group of Insurance Companies.

This was a consequence of closer ties between the Life and Fire Societies at executive level, which also saw the establishment of a combined secretarial department. In 1976, the company completed negotiations with the Winterthur Swiss Insurance Company and the Chiyoda Corporation of Japan for a joint venture to develop an international insurance and reinsurance network. A holding company, Norwich Winterthur Holdings Ltd, was established in Norwich, with the Fire Society holding a 45% share. Key dates Name changes to Aviva Insurance UK Ltd Did you know...? The society was established by Thomas Bignold with 27 backers who initially put in a pound but pledged £1,000. However, during the first seven years the company had no claim greater than £27. The company insured the great exhibition building in 1862 for £450,000, then a record sum. The company's offices at 9 Surrey Street, known as Bignold House, were built as a private house for the Patteson family.

Rooms in the house were heated by fireplaces, some of which were designed by Sir John Soane, and clerks were expected to bring in a pound of coal for each day they worked during cold periods. If, during the course of the day, they felt chilly, despite having provided the fuel, they were not allowed to tend the fire, or indeed warm themselves. If they did so, they were fined. This draconian rule was later relaxed and employees were allowed to warm themselves, but only one at a time, and they still weren't allowed to tend the fire. Norwich Union agency poster, c1950 Norwich Cathedral first appeared as a company trade mark in 1877. It was used in various forms over the years, and the cathedral spire was an inspiration for part of the new corporate mark following the merger with CGU in 2000. The company's fire brigade gathered on the first Tuesday of each month and got the engine up to a head of steam. If there was no fire to attend, they washed the front of Bignold House. Years later the front of the building had to be replaced having been weakened by the constant washing.

The company was one of the earliest to produce a staff magazine, the first issue of which was published in 1891. Through its pages it is possible to trace not only the development of the business but also changes in social attitudes such as the introduction of female workers. In 1905, the Norwich Union fire brigade at Worcester took delivery of their new "Fire King" motorised engine. Unfortunately, on its way to its first fire sparks poured from the chimney destroying the blouse of a lady cyclist and a good portion of hedge. The brigade turned round before they did any further damage and returned the engine to Merryweather, the manufacturers. They attributed the cause to "clutch trouble" and returned the repaired engine to Worcester, where it served successfully for a number of years. After the San Francisco disaster of 1906, the company eventually recorded its total liability as "not exceeding $500,000". Subsidiaries (to 1985) and constituents* Year Romania (by 1934) Published History Five Generations of the Bignold Family 1761 – 1947 and Their Connection with the Norwich Union by Sir Robert Bignold.

B T Batsford Ltd. London, 1948. Norwich Union: The First 200 Years by Jonathan Mantle. James & James Ltd. London, 1997. In the archives The Aviva archive contains records relating to the running of Norwich Union Insurance between 1797 and 2007. The collection includes annual reports and accounts, profit and loss accounts, local board minutes, agency minutes, deeds of settlement, certificates of incorporation, seal registers, policy registers, policies, registers of directors, board of trade returns, ledgers, journals, reports on overseas business, letter books, advertisements, fire brigade memorabilia, fire marks, agreements, acquisition papers, salary books, agents instructions, agents appointment files, agency signs, branded material, staff sports club material, staff magazines and board, general and committee minutes. Aviva launches new advertising campaign - Aviva plc Home > Media > News releases > Aviva launches new advertising campaign Aviva launches new advertising campaign 22 Dec 2008 Aviva, the international savings, investments and insurance group, is launching a new advertising campaign to communicate that the UK's largest insurance company, Norwich Union, is changing its name to Aviva.

The high profile campaign, created by AMVBBDO, will launch on 26 December across national broadcast, print, outdoor and online media, and will run for six months. The company already trades as Aviva in over 20 markets across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific and the change of name in the UK marks the final phase of the company's move to a worldwide brand. Norwich Union will change its name in June 2009. The first TV execution in the new Aviva advertising campaign features A-List celebrities who have changed their names, before becoming internationally recognised for their talent. Stars including Bruce Willis, Elle Macpherson, Ringo Starr, Alice Cooper and Dame Edna Everage ask themselves: "would this have happened if my name had been...?" Created by Tony Strong and Mike Durban and directed by Vaughan Arnell - who previously directed videos for Robbie Williams - the advert shows celebrities integrated into earlier footage in which they are observing their younger selves. For example, Bruce Willis talks from the passenger seat of a car chase scene from the movie Die Hard, whilst his younger self is driving the car.

Amanda Mackenzie, chief marketing officer at Aviva, says: "We are very proud that Norwich Union started 200 years ago, selling protection against fire and highway robbery; as Aviva we are now the fifth largest insurer in the world. As our business becomes increasingly global, we need one name customers can recognise, wherever they are. One name means a unified company, allowing us to share our knowledge and expertise with customers around the world.

The new advertising campaign communicates our name change in a dynamic and vibrant way, signaling that this is the beginning of an even better way of doing things for our customers." -ends- Further information: Still photography from the advertising available from Hill and Knowlton - Katie Keenan, senior PR account manager, 0207 413 3000 / 07939 646489, Katie.keenan@hillandknowlton.com Norwich Union Louise Zucchi - head of media relations Telephone: +44 (0)1603 684506 Sue Winston - head of media relations Telephone: 020 7662 8221 Notes to editors: About the celebrities Bruce Willis was born Walter Bruce Willis on 19 March 1955, in Idar-Oberstein, West Germany. He is an American actor, and film producer who came to fame in the late 1980s and has since starred in over 60 films, including Die Hard, Pulp Fiction, Sin City, Unbreakable, Armageddon and The Sixth Sense.

Elle Macpherson was born Eleanor Gow on 29 March 1964 in New South Wales, Australia. She is a businesswoman, model, and actress, known as "The Body". Ringo Starr was born Richard Starkey on 7 July 1940 in Liverpool. He is a musician, singer, songwriter and actor, best known as the drummer for The Beatles. Alice Cooper was born Vincent Damon Furnier on 4 February 1948. He is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans five decades, and who created the theatrical brand of rock music known as shock rock. Dame Edna Everage was born John Barry Humphries on 17 February 1934, in Melbourne, Australia. He is best known for his on-stage and television alter egos Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson. About Aviva plc Aviva is the international savings, investments and insurance group formed from the merger of Norwich Union and CGU in 2000. Following the merger the parent company, CGNU plc, operated under 40 major trading brands across the world until the Aviva brand was introduced in 2002.

Aviva is the leading provider of life and pension products in Europe with substantial positions in other markets around the world, making it the world's fifth largest insurance group based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2007. Aviva's principal business activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with worldwide total sales of £49.2 billion at 31 December 2007 and funds under management of £359 billion at 30 June 2008. Commercial Union Poland and Hibernian in Ireland will also become Aviva by 2010. After the name change, the cathedral spire logo will be retained. RAC is part of Norwich Union. As a specialist motoring services brand, the RAC name will not change. The Aviva media centre at includes images, company and product information and a news release archive. Norwich Union Changes Name to Aviva - The Inspiration Room Norwich Union Changes Name to Aviva Duncan Macleod January 19, 2009 UK insurance company Norwich Union ‘s rebranding as Aviva is given a move along with the recently released television commercial featuring high profile entertainers who have changed their names.

The company introduced the new name in 2002 to help with the launch of its services outside of the UK. On Boxing Day a six month print, television and online advertising campaign brings the Aviva name back to the UK customers, preparing for the final switchover in June 2009. The first TV execution in the new Aviva advertising campaign features celebrities who have changed their names, before becoming internationally recognized for their talent. A-list stars including Bruce Willis, Elle Macpherson, Ringo Starr, Dame Edna Everage, and Alice Cooper ask themselves: “Would this have happened if my name had been…?” The advert shows celebrities integrated into earlier footage in which they are observing their younger selves. Bruce Willis, for example, talks from the passenger seat of a car chase scene from the movie Die Hard, whilst his younger self is driving the car. Would Bruce Willis have made it as Walter Willis? Would Alice Cooper have achived fame as Vincent Damon Furnier? Or Elle Macpherson as Eleanor Gow? How about Ringo Starr as Richard Starkey? Dame Edna Everidge as just Edna?

Click on the image below to play the video in YouTube Credits The Change of Name spot was developed at AMV BBDO , London, by creatives Tony Strong and Mike Durban at created bywith agency producer Anita Sasdy. Filming was shot by director Vaughan Arnell via Serious Pictures with director of photography Nicola Pecorini and producer Donnie Masters. Editor was Bruce Townsend at The Quarry . Post production was done at The Mill . Sound was designed at Wave Studios . Amanda Mackenzie, chief marketing officer at Aviva, says: “We are very proud that Norwich Union started 200 years ago, selling protection against fire and highway robbery; as Aviva we are now the fifth largest insurer in the world. As our business becomes increasingly global, we need one name customers can recognise, wherever they are. One name means a unified company, allowing us to share our knowledge and expertise with customers around the world.

The new advertising campaign communicates our name change in a dynamic and vibrant way, signaling that this is the beginning of an even better way of doing things for our customers.” AVIVA Insurance - A Company Profile STAMP DEMON //// Household Names //// Insurance //// Loans //// Car Insurance //// Factors Affecting Car Insurance //// Home Insurance //// Travel Insurance //// Site Index AVIVA Welcome to AVIVA Insurance Company profile featured at STAMP DEMON. Here is a brief company profile provided by AVIVA, the world's fifth largest insurance company: "Aviva is the largest insurance services provider in the UK. As one of the leading providers of life, pension and general insurance products in Europe they are actively growing their businesses in Asian markets, Australia and the USA. Aviva aims for superior long-term investment performance and, as one of he UK's most financially strong investment companies; have the ability to deliver. Avivaï¿½s size and efficiency give even greater opportunities to provide an extensive range of value-for-money, good quality products. On June 1st 2009 Norwich Union changes its name to Aviva. Aviva is the worldï¿½s fifth largest insurance group and operates in 27 countries.

Aviva is to become the customer brand worldwide, thus enabling the company to compete even more effectively on a global scale for the benefit of customers, staff, business partners and shareholders." Below are a list of the products and services provided by AVIVA: Aviva launches new broker website and online trading platform - Aviva Aviva You are currently within Homepage > Media centre Aviva launches new broker website and online trading platform Article date: 5 May 2009 Ahead of Norwich Union's name change on 1 June, Aviva this month launches its brand new website for brokers, and online trading platform, Fast Trade. Following feedback from brokers, the website will provide simpler navigation and improved quote facilities, cover and documentation and replaces . The site will also provide improved product information and an online claims management service, including the option to customise the site to a broker's particular needs. Fast Trade - the new online quote and buy facility for small business insurance - replaces the Norwich Union commercial e-services system and will provide a quicker, simpler end-to-end process with instant documentation for six small business packages, including a new one for small Commercial Property Owners.

John Kennedy, director of business development, says: "We have listened to what our brokers say is important to them and as a result have created a site that is not only easy to use but also gives the broker more control over what they see. "The brand new online quote facility, Fast Trade, will make it much simpler to transact business and get instant access to documentation. "Another new feature is the ability to customise the site; for example, a commercial broker can choose just to see commercial product information. This also applies if they are a member of our Club 110 or Broker Independence Group where they can opt to see tailored messages." -ends- The Norwich Union Life Insurance Company Ltd - Heritage - Aviva plc You are currently within Home > Our history > Companies > The Norwich Union Life Insurance Company Ltd The Norwich Union Life Insurance Company Ltd The Norwich Union Life Insurance Company was established in 1808 as a mutual life insurer. The company was originally known as the Norwich Union Society (or Union Office) for Insurances on Lives and Survivorships. It was incorporated on May 10 1893 when it changed its name to the Norwich Union Life Insurance Society.

Company History Norwich Union Life promotional postcard, 1923 On June 16 1997, the company was renamed the Norwich Union Life Insurance Company Ltd. On 21 February 2000, Norwich Union plc, the holding company, announced that it was merging with CGU plc to form CGNU plc, which was rebranded as Aviva plc in July 2002. Norwich Union Life was registered as dormant on December 23 2003. Key dates Name changes to the Norwich Union Life Insurance Society 1997 Name changes to the Norwich Union Life Insurance Company 2000 Norwich Union merges with CGU to form CGNU 2002 CGNU is rebranded as Aviva in July 2003 The company is registered as dormant Did you know...? In 1823, the company insured then well-known actor and comedian Robert William Elliston. In 1842, a life policyholder who was sentenced to transportation to Australia drowned on the voyage out. The policyholder had his policy declared void on the grounds that he had not first secured the company's "licence to travel".

Norwich Union Life's head office, 1922 In 1848, company president Isaac Jermy was murdered on the doorstep of his house, Stanfield Hall, by one of his tenants, James Blomfield Rush. Rush was later hanged and company staff were given the day off to watch the hanging. William Palmer, known as the Rugeley Poisoner and the first person in Britain to be tried for murder by strychnine, was insured by the company. Palmer was hanged in 1856. Norwich Cathedral first appeared as a company trade mark in 1877. It was used in various forms over the years, and the cathedral spire was an inspiration for part of the new corporate mark following the merger with CGU in 2000. Author H Rider Haggard is mentioned in the 1890 report of the directors. Haggard had been present at the annual general meeting of June 24 1891 where he "seconded the proposed vote of thanks with much pleasure, remarked that it was impossible to hear the report without realising that the whole of the affairs of this society were in the most satisfactory condition".

The company insured Queen Victoria in 1901. The Queen's life was insured by a theatre company which feared that when the country went into mourning following her death their business would suffer because people wouldn't go to the theatre. The heating and air conditioning system in the society's head office at 8 Surrey Street, Surrey House, was famously complex. Air was brought in from the west side of the building and passed through a water screen in the basement to cleanse and purify it. In the winter time, the treated air was moved to the front of the building where it was heated and then passed to the marble hall via ducts. It entered the hall via the central font. The ornamental pendant suspended from the ceiling was designed to deflect the air around the hall. The whole process took just 20 minutes. The explanation of the system baffled a young man who joined the office as a junior in the 1930s. The new employee had quite some difficulty believing that the air circulated around the marble hall just because of the pendant. Convinced this couldn't be the case he went out one lunch time to find some dandelion seed heads. He brought back a bunch and thrust them into the up draught of the font.

In his own words, "within minutes those seeds were everywhere". In the 1950s, the company insured Agatha Christie under her married name Agatha Mallowen. During the 1970s, an episode of "Tales of the Unexpected" starring Telly Savalas was filmed in the boardroom of 8 Surrey Street. The company insured Freddie Mercury in the 1980s. Subsidiaries (to 1985) and constituents* Year Valetta, Malta (by 1969) Published History Five generations of the Bignold Family 1761 - 1947 and their connection with the Norwich Union by Sir Robert Bignold. B T Batsford Ltd. London, 1948. Norwich Union: The First 200 years by Jonathan Mantle. James & James Ltd. London, 1997. In the archives The Aviva archive contains records relating to the running of the Norwich Union Life Insurance Company between 1808 and 1996.

The collection includes annual reports and accounts, general ledgers, board minutes, general minutes, committee minutes, certificates of incorporation, memoranda and articles of association, acts of parliament, deed of settlement, policy registers, annuity registers, journals, referee letters, salary books, photographs, prospectuses, policies, branded promotional material and product literature. Home About Aviva What we do This is Aviva Our background Our values Our leaders A responsible business Our working environment Our locations What we do There's more to a job than the results you achieve and the money you’re paid. At Aviva, we know that respect and recognition are just as important, and in our 300 year history, that’s something that has stayed central to our company’s evolution. Which is why you won't just find details of roles and careers on our site, you’ll learn about the size, scope and diversity of the Aviva business, the huge number of opportunities open to you and the level of support we’ll offer to help you achieve everything you want to. Providing around 31 million customers with insurance, savings and investment products, Aviva are one of the leading providers of life and pension products in Europe and have strong businesses in selected international markets.

We combine life insurance, general insurance and asset management businesses under one powerful brand. We’re committed to serving our customers to the highest standards and building a stronger, more sustainable business – making a positive contribution to society and shaping a company that employees want to invest their talents in. We’re here to help people, businesses and communities get back on their feet when the unexpected happens. Which is why it’s important for every one of the 30,000 people we employ to understand what our customers want and need. We’re working to provide each customer with an exceptional Aviva experience – one that they’d be happy to recommend to friends and family. In fact, we aim to be the most recommended company in our market, and the most popular employer too. That’s because as a company, we’re just as focused on our employees as we are our customers. As well as being rewarded for their exceptional performance, our open and inclusive culture means our people are inspired to do more and encouraged to challenge the way we do things. Together, we’re building a company to be proud of. What we do is important. It frees people from fear of uncertainty.

And the bigger we get, the more vital it is that we have a positive impact on the world we operate in. That’s why we work hard to be socially responsible and to integrate sustainability into every part of our business. 1696 Hand-in-Hand founded The Hand-in-Hand was established as a mutual society on 12 November 1696. Two other fire insurance offices – the Fire Office and the Friendly Society – already existed at this time but the Hand-in-Hand was the first to be established on the mutual principle. Policyholders included dukes, lords and bishops. The Hand-in-Hand insured the house of Sir Robert Walpole – Britain's first prime minister, as well as Sir Isaac Newton, Dr Samuel Johnson and the Duke of Wellington. It provided insurance cover for a number of notable London buildings including Guy's Hospital and the Theatre Royal. Samuel Whitbread's new brewery was insured by the society in 1750, and Lambeth Palace was insured for the Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1758, it insured the temporary London Bridge following the destruction of the previous bridge in a fire.

1797 Norwich Union founded Norwich Union, one of the principal companies that merged to create Aviva, was founded in Norwich, Norfolk, on 1 March 1797 as the Norwich Union Society for Insuring of Buildings, Goods, Merchandizes & Effects from Loss by Fire. Its founder, Thomas Bignold, was a 36-year-old wine merchant and banker. Having moved from Kent to Norfolk, he had been unable to find anyone to insure him against the threat from highwaymen who robbed travellers. He was also aware that in a city built largely of wood, the threat of fire was probable. Bignold turned these observations into a business opportunity. Norwich Union later became known as the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Office. It was a mutual enterprise that meant it was owned by the policyholders, who not only pooled their premiums to pay out in the event of a claim, but also received a share of the profits. 1824 Sir Walter Scott Novelist Sir Walter Scott, one of the original shareholders in the Edinburgh Life Assurance Company, was elected as an extraordinary director of the company in December 1824.

Two years later in the weeks following his financial ruin, he assigned the policy of £2,000 to David Hogarth of Hilton. In 1828, with the agreement of Hogarth and Scott's trustees James Jollie and John Gibson, half the policy was assigned to Robert Cadell as manager and trustee of Cadell & Co Booksellers of Edinburgh. In October 1831, Scott made a voyage to Malta and Naples on HMS Barham for which he had to pay an additional premium of 10 shillings. The trip was intended to restore him to fitness. Sadly, he returned to Abbotsford to die on 21 September 1832. The final endorsement on the life policy confirms that the sum of £2,000 was paid to David Hogarth in January 1833. 1896 Winston Churchill policyholder Winston Churchill took out a personal accident policy with the Accident Insurance Company in 1896. The policy covered accidental death for £1,000. The annual premium of £6 14s (£6.70) included risks from steeplechasing and other forms of racing, plus travel and temporary residence outside Europe.

After his education, Churchill was sent to India with a cavalry commission. He won early fame as a war correspondent, and his daring escape from a Boer prison camp in 1899 made him a national hero - ushering him into the House of Commons where his career spanned 60 years. In 1958 the directors of Commercial Union wrote to Sir Winston informing him that this was the oldest personal accident policy on their books and would be free of further payments. Sir Winston thanked the board and said "Pray accept my warm thanks for your thought of me, which has given me pleasure”. 1912 Sinking of the Titanic Commercial Union was one of the companies that insured the White Star liner Titanic, which sank on 15 April 1912 with the loss of more than 1,500 lives after striking an iceberg on its maiden voyage. The owners had so much confidence in her design that they had not insured her for her full value – an estimated £1,750,000. Even so, insurance on Titanic's hull and machinery was the largest marine insurance ever placed.

The Aviva constituent company Commercial Union agreed to accept £75,000 of the total £1,000,000 risk on both the Titanic and her sister ship the Olympic. A loss of some £1,000,000 was involved which, according to The Times of 1912, was "the heaviest individual loss that has ever befallen underwriters". Commercial Union's share of the claim amounted to £145,723, of which £60,723 was for losses to registered mail posted from London, Hamburg and Paris. 1914 Outbreak of First World War Many Aviva employees served in the armed forces during the First World War. Those left behind took on the work of their colleagues. Some companies brought staff out of retirement and recruited more women. Many of Aviva's constituent companies actively encouraged their employees to enlist. They also recognised the need to support the families of those who volunteered. In 1915 the German occupying authorities sealed the safe in the General Accident offices in Antwerp, Belgium – only for the staff to break in at night to take back vital records without the Germans ever finding out.

In recognition of the important contributions of group employees during the war, a special section has been created on the Aviva website . This includes a roll of honour for those who died, stories of employees who won medals, company war records, letters home, stories from the home front and what happened after the Armistice. 1939 Outbreak of Second World War Over 7,700 male and female employees of Aviva constituent companies from around the world served in the forces in World War Two. Members of our staff were involved in most of the major land, air and sea battles and events of the war from Dunkirk to the D-Day Landings. Vivienne Hall, a typist in the London head office of Northern Assurance, kept a diary that is now held by the Imperial War Museum and is quoted in a number of histories of the period. General Accident offered a 20% wartime discount on car insurance premiums since so many vehicles were laid up because of petrol rationing.

However, company employees were involved in a number of notable incidents, including the doomed attack by Fairey Swordfish aircraft against the German warships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau in February 1942 and the famous "Great Escape" from prisoner of war camp Stalag Luft III in March 1944. 1956 First computer The Philadelphia office of General Accident installed the company's first computer, an Invec 650, for handling general accounts. Four years later, General Accident ordered the first computer for its UK business, an IBM 1401. Commercial Union’s first computer centre was set up in 1962. It housed a KDP 10 computer nicknamed "Cutie" – Commercial Union Totally Integrated Electronics – built by the English Electric Company at a cost of over £250,000. According to a report, two domestic staff mistook a piece of modern sculpture in the foyer for the machine itself. Norwich Union's first computer, an Orion 1, arrived at head office in 1964. Another computer, five times faster than the original Orion, was installed in 1966.

The first personal computers (PCs) were installed in Norwich Union offices in 1980, prompting the creation of a computer advice centre to help train and support staff. 1963 Great Train Robbery On Wednesday 7 August 1963, a Travelling Post Office train left Glasgow for Euston. On board, staff sorted the mail and parcels prior to its arrival in London. The second carriage was a High Value Package carriage, where registered mail was sorted. Much of this consisted of cash, usually in the region of £300,000. But because there had been a Bank Holiday weekend, the total on the day of the robbery was £2.3 million (about £30 million today). Commercial Union paid out over £1 million following the Great Train Robbery. Rewards totalling £260,000 were offered by insurers, banks and the Post Office for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the thieves and return of the money. After a massive police operation, the gang's abandoned hideout was found at Leatherslade Farm in Bedfordshire. 12 of the gang of 15 thieves were sentenced to jail terms totalling more than 300 years.

1983 Theft of Shergar General Accident was one of a number of companies that insured Shergar, the winner of the 1981 Epsom Derby by a record 10 lengths – the longest winning margin in the race's 226-year history. This victory earned him a spot in The Observer newspaper's 100 Most Memorable Sporting Moments of the Twentieth Century. He was bred by his owner Prince Karim Aga Khan IV close to the Irish stud from which he was stolen in February 1983. Demands for a ransom were never met, and Shergar was presumed dead by August of that year. It made the front page of many newspapers, with some dubbing him the ‘super horse’. The thieves have never been officially identified. The incident has been the inspiration for several books, documentaries, and even a film starring Mickey Rourke. General Accident's liability amounted to £144,000. 2004 Asian tsunami disaster relief The group’s businesses showed strong support for the victims of the Asian tsunami that struck on 26 December 2004.

The earthquake that triggered a series of devastating tsunamis along the coasts bordering the Indian Ocean killed over 230,000 people in fourteen countries. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters ever recorded. Staff donated essential supplies and contributed more than £200,000 of the £700,000 committed by Aviva to the emergency relief effort. Part of the funding was directed towards building schools and replacing fishing boats. In particular, Aviva supported the rebuilding of 10 houses in the village of Seenigama, Sri Lanka. To help co-ordinate the funds donated by employees in the UK, Aviva teamed up with Oxfam and Concern India to establish suitable development projects. In 2006, the group established a global partnership with Oxfam, becoming a founder of the Oxfam 365 Alliance to respond to emergencies around the world. 2006 World's first carbon-neutral insure Managing and reducing our impact on the environment is a priority for our business. In fact, 100% of our electricity is now purchased from suppliers providing renewable and zero emission electricity.

As well as reducing our consumption and sourcing zero emissions electricity, December 2006 saw Aviva commit to becoming the first insurer to be carbon neutral worldwide. We had already committed to helping our customers limit their impact on climate change, offering flood mapping and lobbying on the issue of flood defences and floodplain planning. We also offered reduced premium insurance products for drivers of flexi-fuel Ford cars. Becoming carbon neutral worldwide and investing in projects like the Biogas projects in Sri Lanka, the “Green" cement projects in the Netherlands and Ireland and wind turbine projects across Asia, we’ll earn carbon credits that will offset our remaining emissions – approximately 110,000 tonnes annually – on a retrospective basis. 2009 Norwich Union becomes Aviva On 1 June 2009, Norwich Union, then the UK’s largest insurer, changed its name to Aviva. At the time we already traded as Aviva in most of our 28 markets across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. So the change in the UK was a key part of our strategy to unite the business behind a worldwide brand.

By 2009 we had grown from the merger of a number of businesses to become the fifth largest insurer in the world, providing savings, investments and insurance to around 50 million customers. For Norwich Union customers, becoming Aviva was not just about a name change. It was about being part of a company that transformed itself to meet the needs of its customers. Aviva customers in the UK could now benefit from the group’s experience and expertise around the world, bringing to them improved products and services. 2015 Friends Life acquisition Aviva's acquisition of Friends Life is complete creating a stronger, more diversified business and making Aviva the leading life and pensions provider in the UK. Our values Our values sit at the heart of our business. They’re there to guide us in everything we do – from performing in our day-to-day roles to making important business-wide decisions. Which is why we look for the kind of people who can really embrace our values. People ready to help free customers from uncertainty, and shape a better place to work while they’re at it. Care more At Aviva we care like crazy about our customers, each other and the communities we operate in.

We look at every issue from the customer’s point of view and actively seek out and address what is wrong – treating the company’s money like our own in order to find the best solution. Kill complexity At Aviva we are obsessed with making things simpler for our customers and for each other. Our employees are plain dealing and manage complexity so our customers don’t have to. And, by putting the customer front of mind from start to finish, they make the whole process a breeze. Never rest At Aviva we are driven every single day to be edgy, think bigger and do better for our customers and each other. We think creatively, make bold decisions and challenge the status quo. And as well as celebrating our successes, we learn from our mistakes – working together through obstacles to reach our desired result. Create legacy At Aviva we strive to create a future for our customers and each other, which is every bit as bright and sustainable as others created before us. We invite every one of our people to invest in the Aviva community, make their own impact and leave things better than they found them. To make decisions they’ll be as proud of in 20 years’ time as they are today.

Our locations SP1 3SH A responsible business “My vision is that we will be regarded as good ancestors by future generations.” Mark Wilson, Aviva CEO Our Corporate Responsibility (CR) strategy is underpinned by Aviva’s purpose and values. It sets out our approach to the environment and climate change, sustainable and transparent business practices, and community development. Trust and transparency - Strengthening Aviva’s ethical practice and reputation, clearly demonstrating our sustainability. Community development - Acting responsibly in our communities, extending our positive impact through expertise and partnership. All Aviva employees are encouraged to get involved in their communities through fundraising and volunteering – with paid volunteering leave across the business – we want you to get out and share your talents whilst learning from the experience, developing and refining your business skills in the process. Environment and climate change - Managing our environmental risks and helping customers to adapt to climate change. We work with policy-makers and other stakeholders to tackle climate change and encourage people to make sustainable choice. Responsible Investment - Investing responsibly for the long-term interests of our business and customers. We play an active role in working to improve responsible investment practices, which includes our sustainable capital markets campaign.

We engage with companies in which we invest to improve their approach to environmental, social and governance issues. You can find out more about corporate responsibility at Aviva by taking a look at our website .

Question: To what did the insurance company Norwich Union change its name in 2009?
Answer: AVIVA